Automobile heating system for out-door drive-in theaters



1951 G. A. BEHMAN ETAL 2,574,949

AUTOMOBILE HEATING SYSTEM FOR OUTDOOR DRIVE-IN THEATERS Filed Feb. 27, 1950 :uunumnu; 3

A/ll/I/l/l 1 25 26 5 Tim INVENTORS EERA LD A. BEHMAN FRALNK E ME 2E COIN GAP BY 2 0 ATTURN Patented Nov. 13, 1951 AUTOMOBILE HEATING SYSTEM FOR OUT- DOOR DItIVE-IN THEATERS Gerald A. Behman, San Francisco, and Frank R. Meze, Redwood City, Calif.

Application February-27, 1950, Serial No. 146,574

This invention relates to an improved heating system for outdoor automobile drive-in theaters and has for the primary object the provision of a heating system comprising individual, fanblown coil-heated units positioned in multiple locations and mounted on the conventional post spaced one from the other, which spaced posts are provided for speakers in outdoor drive-in theaters, said units to be of a suitable wattage commensurable with the particular climate employed and line-operated from existing source of electric supply in the outdoor drive-in theater, each unit being provided with a conventional coin-control means for electrically starting the heater and with suitable switches for connection and disconnection of the same by the user.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a bar or other suitable means on the post for retaining the heater thereon when not in use.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a specially constructed bracket on the heater for enabling the same to be suspended on the window sill or lowered window of the automobile.

A still further object of the present invention is to form a series of vents in the heater casing and to provide angular shaped fins for directing the blown air downwardly and through the inside of the car.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a heating system and unit for outdoor automobile drive-in theaters that is durable, simple in construction, positive in operation, economical to manufacture and highly efiicient and serviceable in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification wherein for the purpose of illustration like numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a plurality of posts and the heating units associated therewith and an enlarged diagramatic view of one of the heating units connected to the electric supply line,

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevational view of a conventional post employed in outdoor drive-in theaters for carrying the speakers and shows two heaters, one of which is suspended on each side of the post,

Fig. 3 is a vertical view, shown partly in elevation and partly in section, of one of the specially constructed heaters employed in the invention,

1 Claim; (Cl. 219-39) Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the same, and

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram employed in conjunction with relay coil in coin control box.

Referring in detail to the drawing and numerals thereof the numeral 1 designates one of a series of posts employed in an outdoor drive-in theater for carrying the speakers 8 and 9 as disclosed to advantage in Fig. 2. The numerals i0 and H designate two bars, one of which extends from each side of the post and is fixed thereto in any suitable manner and is provided for suspending a heater on each side of the post. The numeral l2 designates the coin control box for accommodating two relays 13 as shown in Fig. 5, one relay of which is operated when a coin is put in the drop l4 for starting the heater positioned on the right side of the post and the second relay operated when a coin is put in the drop l5 for starting the heater positioned on the left side of the post. The coin control mechanism is of conventional construction well known in the art, the details of which are not described as the specific construction of the said mechanism is not considered a part of the invention.

The heater is designated as a whole by the numeral [6 and comprises a casing ll of any suitable size or shape and into which is provided, at the top portion thereof, anelectric motor l8 secured to the top by bolts or rivets [9. A fan 20 is fixed on the motor shaft 2! for blowing air across the heating coil 22. The bottom of the casing is formed with a circular opening 23 and a series of fins 24 are positioned across the opening and welded or otherwise fixed to the casing in any suitable manner, whereby a series of vents 25 are formed for enabling the warm air to be blown from the housing. The said fins extend at a suitable angle inwardly as disclosed to advantage in Fig. 3 to properly direct the warm air into the car. A specially constructed bracket 26, preferably in the form of an inverted U, is fixed to the upper outer side face of the casing as illustrated in Fig. 3 to provide a suitable medium for suspending the heater on the window sill 2'! of the car, which window sill is illustrated in dot and dash lines. However, the window of the car could be lowered a short distance and the heater suspended on the same if desired.

In Fig. 1 there is shown for illustrative purposes the main supply line for the heating units and is designated by the conductors 28 and 28, the said line preferably carrying volts, alternating current, and is provided with a master switch 30. A conductor 3| leads from the motor switch isconnected: to the line-'28 .through' switch 32 and conductori33, completingfthecircuit. A

suitable resistance coil 38 is provided in said circult. A three way switch high, low and "off may be employed or any other type of switch desired.

Having thus described our inventiom'we claim: 7

A device of the characteridescribe'd for.:heat-.

ing automobiles in outdoor theatres :i'ian'dtlike places comprising an electric.heater embodyingin its construction a housing, a bra'cket'in the movably suspending said housing from the window-ssillsofithe automobile,-an+electric heating form of an inverted U-shaped memberiforrecoil positioned in said housing, a motor mounted in said housing in the rear of said heating coil, a revolvable fan connected to the motor and adapted to blow air past the heating coil, and means including a series of openings in one of the walls of the housing and a series of angularly positioned fans associated with the openings for dispensing and :guiding the "hlown rairito and withinthe'mousing.

GERALD A. BEHMAN. FRANK R. MEZE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 'UNITED STATES PATENTS "Number Name Date v1,673,149 Kohn et a1. June 12, 1928 2,027,605 McCord etal. Jan. 14, 1936 

